When is a group home the best choice?

• When a youth is at moderate-high risk for sexual re-offending.

• When interrupted attachment presents in such disruptive behaviour that parents cannot sustain the process of forming attachment.

• When supervision needs exceed what any parents can reasonably be expected to provide.

• When there is no suitable home available

• When offending has re-occurred following other interventions.

Our program is relationship based. This is the key to our success. Youth tell us they know we care, and we see this reflected in dramatic behavioural changes. But change takes time and hard work from each youth, and from everyone supporting him. We are committed to the time and effort involved to support our clients into safer choices and safer behaviour.

Youth Centre for Change is a 12 bed group home in London Ontario for youth ages 12-18 with a history of sexual offending. Recently our centre changed its name, formerly known as the Raoul Wallenberg Centre. With this name change came several upgrades not on only to our agency, but to our program as well. We are currently in the process of completing renovations to the agency including (but not limited to): resident bedrooms, staff office, landscaping and grounds. Our clinical staff have recently created a new treatment model with assistance from an MSW from the London Family Court Clinic.   

We use thorough psychological assessments to individualize programming for each resident. Each resident is assigned a clinician who will develop an individual treatment path, specific to the strengths and needs of the youth. 

Our two clinical staff ( one registered psychotherapists with a masters in Counselling and one with a Bachelors of Psychology and MSW candidate) provide daily groups and weekly 1:1 counselling. We use evidence-based resources for development and education including the Brain Wise curriculum, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. Our staff team provides constant support for residents to develop and to integrate what they are learning in the program. Topics covered in both individual and group sessions with our clinical staff include (but are not limited to): Detailed processing of sexual offences, addressing and processing clients own past or current traumatic experiences, Victim Awareness, Consent, Laws, Boundaries, Pornography and Media Management, Healthy and Unhealthy Sexual Fantasies. 

Our Youth workers work closely with the youth, engaging them on a therapeutic level with treatment as a priority in all decisions relating to client care. Case workers and clinicians work collaboratively to ensure all aspects of therapy and treatment goals are included within their day to day routines and activities. Front-line youth workers also facilitate adjunctive groups on topics such as Life Skills, Social Skills, BrainWise, Sexual Health and Emotions Management.

We provide an on-site section CCTC classroom, a life skills program, and the opportunity to attend local schools. We are experienced with mild-moderate developmental delays and with learning differences. Youth who attend the on-site CCTC classroom participate in community learning experiences under the supervision of the teacher and staff. Some of these experiences include: Pottery Guild, YMCA, Yoga, Kickboxing, Cycle Classes. 

Supervision includes high staff: resident ratios, awake overnight staffing, and camera and microphone surveillance for common spaces.

Research recommends 18-24 months for residential sex-offense specific treatment. We have occasionally seen a resident complete his program in 12 months. Canadian Research also indicates that youth who receive the right level of response to their offending rarely re-offend sexually. (Reitzel& Carbonell, 2006, Worling, Littlejohn & Bookalam, 2010)

LGBTQ2S youth are welcome and encouraged to explore their identity, to dress well, according to their unique personality and taste, and to participate in community support groups. 

Indigenous clients are very welcome at YCFC. We work closely with community partners to provide indigenous youth with access to the supports and services they wish to utilize. 10 of our staff are San'Yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Certified, and we aspire to provide culturally sensitive and relevant programs. Our current Indigenous Youth utilize the SOAHAC Medical Centre for their medical and some spiritual needs. This allows them to utilize both Western and/or Traditional Medicine and/or practices.

Spirituality and religion: We encourage whole person development and support any interest in spirituality, cultural activities and personal heritage.

Youth deserve nothing less than whole-person developmental support, and research indicates that happy, busy people with adequate social skills have lowered risk levels for sexual offending. This means that recreation has a preventive effect and is a necessary component of a comprehensive sex-offense specific program. We advocate for arts and music lessons, sports, hobbies and other interests. We provide access to the YMCA, and all free community resources and suitable events. We encourage our youth to stay active and busy. 

Recent graduates of YCFC have gone on to a variety of futures, including returning to family reunification, embarking on independent living, semi-independent living here in London, foster-care, and college. Several residents have secured work before graduation and have made a progressive transition out of the program into full time work and or school. Our staff work with youth through both individual work and group work to assist them in learning and gaining the life and social skills necessary for a successful transition to their next placement.

Talk to us about the youth you want to help. We welcome all inquiries.